Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 15, NIC-PAR

8pS
Vrbica.
S99
Riparia.
pco
Furpurea
901
Subis.
Plate
CCCCII.
%• 3*
902
Ambrosi-
903
Erytbroce
phala.
904
Nigra.
905
Apus.
o K N I T H
in water to soften them, then pulled in pieces, and, af¬
ter being mixed with ginseng, are put into the body of
a fowl. The whole is then stewed in a pot, with a suf¬
ficient quantity of water, and left on the coals all night.
On the following morning it is ready to be eaten.
Martin, martlet,martinet, or house martin.—Bluish-
black above, white beneath } tail feathers without spots-,
bill black-, mouth yellow) rump white) legs covered
with a short white down, 'there is a variety that has
the quill and tail feathers tipt with white. About five
inches and a half, and rather inferior in size to the chim¬
ney swallow. Inhabits Europe, Asia, and North Ame¬
rica. Visits Britain in spring, rather later than the
common swallow, making its first appearance in low,
warm situations, and if the weather is fine, beginning
to build early in May. It builds a close nest made of
straw and clay, and lined with feathers, with a hole at
top for admission, in windows, under the eaves of houses,
the projecting ornaments of steeples and churches, &c.
and sometimes against rocks or cliffs, contiguous to the
sea. The eggs are four or five, and pure white. 1 he
manners and habits of this well-known species nearly re¬
semble those of the common swallow.
Sand martin, bank martin, or shore bird.—Cinereous-,
chin and belly white ) bill blackish ) throat encircled
with a mouse-coloured ring) legs black, and downy be¬
hind. Four inches and three quarters long. Inhabits
Europe and America, in which last country it is called
ground swallow. In this country it is not so plentiful
as the preceding, with which it associates, and which
in its manners it much resembles, except that it nestles
in the banks of rivers or sand pits, and makes a nest of
straw and dried fibres, lined with feathers.
Purple swallow.—Entirely violet) tail forked ) bill
black ) legs blackish. Female brown. Seven inches
and three quarters long. Inhabits Carolina and V ir-
ginia, during summer. Is much valued by the inhabi¬
tants for its use in alarming poultry on the approach of
birds of prey, which it does not only by shrieking, but
attacking them with the greatest fury.
Canada swallow.—black) beneath and mouth
whitish-ash) belly white, clouded with brown) quill and
tail feathers blackish, edged with brown) legs and claws
dusky. Eight or nine inches long. Native of Hudson’s
bay.
Ambergrise -Grayish brown j bill blackish)
legs brown. Five inches and a half long. Inhabits
Senegal. Smells strongly of ambergrise.
Red-headed swallow.—Dusky-black, the feathers ed¬
ged with white) under part of the body white) head
red. Size of the least humming bird. Inhabits India.
Black swallow.—Entirely black. Six inches long.
Inhabits the interior parts-ot South America, and builds
in a deep hole in the ground, w'th a long entrance.
Swift, black martin, &c.—Blackish 5 chin white.
Weight nearly an ounce ) length about eight inches.
Inhabits almost every where. The swift makes its ap¬
pearance with us later than any of the other species,
being seldom seen till May. It frequents steeples, towers,
and other lofty buildings, in the holes of which, or under
the tiles of houses and barns, it makes a nest of dried grass,
lined with feathers, which it collects on wing, sweeping
them off the ground in a dexterous manner, Like the
swallow, it sips the water, and at the same time, picks
up flies as it skims over the surface. The female lays
O L O G Y.
only two white eggs of an oblong shape, larger than Passeie;
that, of the swallow ) and while she is sitting, the male u—y—-
is continually flying to and from the spot, making a
screeching noise, which is its only note. At night, both
sit on the nest, or at least roost in the same hole. In
very warm weather, these birds soar to a great height j
but in cold or moist weather, fly low in search of flies
and other winged insects, which at that time cannot
ascend. This species disappears about the middle of
August, remaining here no longer than is necessaiy tor
its breeding, it is remarkable that it disappears soonest
in the best and warmest Weather) and that in the very
inclement season of x 782, numbers of them were seen in
the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, so late as the 25th of
August, flying about with their usual spirit and vivacity,
when the thermometer stood at 36°- ^ is neither cold,
therefore, nor the rvant of food, which disposes them to
quit us so early. They have the process of moulting to
undergo, which cannot be performed in a state of torpor.
Their place of retirement, however, has not been ascer-
tained. , 9°6
White-collared swift.—Blackish-violet) head black; Cayenne.
collar bifid ; ocular band and thighs white. Five inches «»*.
and one quarter long. Inhabits Cayenne. Builds a long
conical nest, with a division in the middle.
Gen. 91. Caprimulgus, Goatsucker.
' 9°7
Caprimi: (j
GUS.
Bill slightly curved, very small, subulated and depressed 908 I
at the base j mouth extremely wide, and furnished Charade
at the sides with a series of bristles ) ears very large 5
tongue pointed and entire ) tail unforked, with 10
feathers ) legs short, middle claw with a broad ser¬
rated edge.
The birds of this family seldom appear in the day
time, except they are disturbed, or in dark cloudy wea¬
ther, but wander about in the evening, in search of in¬
sects. They lay two eggs on the naked ground. The
lateral toes are connected to the middle one by a small
membrane. . • 7 p 5°9
European or nocturnal goatsucker ; proymcially night Europe
or dorrhawk, churn or goatowl, wheelbird, nightjarr,
&c.—Black, varied with cinereous, brown, ferruginous
and white ; beneath reddish-white, with brown bands)
irides hazel) legs short, scaly, and feathered below the
knees. The male is distinguished from the female by a
large oval white spot near the end of the three first quill
feathers, and another on the outmost tail feathers. In¬
habits Europe, Asia, and America. With us this b^d
is only a summer visitant, appearing about the middle of
May, and departing again the latter end of September,
or beginning of October. It makes no nest, but lays
two eggs on the bare ground, among fern, heath, or
lon<r grass, sometimes in woods or furze, but at all times
contiguous to woods, in which it chiefly conceals itself
by day. The eggs are larger than those of a blackbird,
oblong oval, whitish, and elegantly marbled with light
brown and ash-colour. It generally sits on the ground,
but if molested, frequently perches on the limb of a tree,
most commonly lengthwise, and not across, as is com¬
mon with most birds. In the dusk of the evening, 1
begins its flight in pursuit of the larger insects, particu¬
larly scarabeeus melolontha, and solstitiahs, which rise
from their earthy abode about that time. It is also
fond of the large-bodied moths, and indeed allows tew